C ommo nwe a l t h memb e r c o u n t r i e s The President appoints judges on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, subject to the approval of two-thirds of the members of the People’s Majlis. Government and politics Last elections: October 2008 (presidential), May 2009 (parliamentary) Next elections: 9 November 2013 (presidential), 2014 (parliamentary) Head of State: President Dr Mohammed Waheed Hassan Manik Head of Government: the President Ruling party: National Unity Government President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom was elected for a sixth term by the Majlis and was confirmed in his sixth term as President at the referendum in October 2003 receiving 90 per cent of the votes. In June 2004, Gayoom announced proposals for wide-ranging constitutional reforms including a multiparty system and a directly elected President. The general election in January 2005, observed by a Commonwealth expert team, was to be the last before political parties were allowed in June 2005. The main parties to emerge were Dhivehi Raiyyithunge Party (DRP), led by the President, Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), Adalath (Justice) Party, and Islamic Democratic Party. In March 2006 the government published its ‘Roadmap for the Reform Agenda’, which provided for the first multiparty elections to be held in 2008. In a constitutional referendum in August 2007, turnout was 77 per cent and 62 per cent of votes were cast for a presidential system as proposed by Gayoom’s DRP rather than a ‘Westminster’ parliamentary system advocated by the opposition MDP. The new constitution, which reduced presidential powers while strengthening the Majlis and the judiciary, was ratified in August 2008. The first multiparty presidential elections were held in October 2008 and turnout was 86 per cent. Gayoom received 40.3 per cent of votes, Mohamed Nasheed (MDP) 24.9 per cent, Hassan Saeed (independent) 16.7 per cent and Qasim Ibrahim (Republican Party) 15.2 per cent. Nasheed defeated Gayoom in the run-off in late October 2008 receiving 54.2 per cent of the votes cast – turnout was 87 per cent – and Nasheed was sworn in as President on 11 November 2008. On 22 November, Ibrahim Nasir whom Gayoom had succeeded as President in 1978 died. The first multiparty parliamentary elections followed in May 2009. It was a close contest in which the DRP won the most seats (28 seats and 37 per cent of votes); the President’s MDP took 25 (33 per cent), independents 13 (17 per cent) and the People’s Alliance seven (9 per cent). The first multiparty local elections were held on 5 February 2011. Commonwealth observers were present at the 2008 presidential, the 2009 parliamentary and the 2011 local elections. On 7 February 2012 President Nasheed resigned from office and his Vice-President, Dr Mohamed Waheed, was sworn in as President. Following former President Nasheed’s subsequent claim that his resignation was submitted under duress, the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) sent a ministerial mission to Maldives during 18–20 February 2012. Then at an extraordinary meeting of CMAG on 22 February, the Group placed Maldives on its agenda and Maldives’ membership of CMAG was held in abeyance. On 1 March Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma appointed Sir Donald McKinnon, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, as his Special Envoy to Maldives. On 30 August 2012 the Commission of National Inquiry, which had been established to inquire into the facts and circumstances leading to the transfer of power on 7 February 2012, released a report concluding that the transfer of power had been legal and constitutional. At its meeting on 28 September 2012 CMAG agreed to continue to monitor the situation in Maldives. With a turnout of 88 per cent, the presidential elections of 7 September 2013 were won by former President Mohamed Nasheed, the MDP’s candidate, with 45.5 per cent of votes. Abdulla Yamin of the Progressive Party of Maldives secured 25.4 per cent, Qasim Ibrahim of the Jumhooree Party 24.1 per cent and the incumbent President Waheed 5.1 per cent. A Commonwealth observer group was present in Maldives 31 August–14 September 2013 and reported positively on the credibility of the electoral process. The second round, which was due to be held on 27 September 2013, was cancelled and on 7 October the Supreme Court annulled the elections of 7 September. Fresh elections were announced for 19 October 2013 and Waheed subsequently withdrew from the contest. On the day of the poll the elections were cancelled and on 21 October a new date of 9 November was set for the first round and, if needed, 16 November for the second round. Commonwealth Governance Handbook 2013/14 204 Governance institutions Elections Commission: www.elections.gov.mv People’s Majlis: www.majlis.gov.mv Supreme Court: www.supremecourt.gov.mv Attorney-General’s Office: www.agoffice.gov.mv Ministry of Home Affairs: www.homeaffairs.gov.mv Ministry of Finance and Treasury: www.finance.gov.mv Ministry of Economic Development: www.trade.gov.mv Maldives Monetary Authority: www.mma.gov.mv
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